With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

Attention Readers: Find Us in Your Mailbox Soon

With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

Features

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — On Monday, Dec. 12, a group of Santa’s helpers delivered hot meals, Christmas gifts, blankets, stockings stuffed with personal care items and more to local senior citizens, most with ties to the Shelby Township Senior Center.

Retired dispatcher Bonnie Bowman and dispatcher Carol Smith, who has been with the Shelby Township Police Department for 17 years, coordinated the event with the help of the Shelby Township Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 142 and donations from businesses, churches and individuals in the community.

On Dec. 15, subzero temperatures swept the county while things heated up inside the Sterling Heights Senior Center, where three Macomb County election recounts took place.

The Utica mayor recount began at 8 a.m. and wrapped up around 5:30 p.m. A group of six people carefully worked at a table in the Senior Center’s multipurpose room to count ballots cast for Thom Dionne, Councilman Frank Czapski and Edward Wykes.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — For the fourth year in a row, Christmas is a golden time of year for the Salvation Army in St. Clair Shores.

The person the charity is calling a “Secret Santa” has, for the fourth year in a row, dropped a 1980 South African gold Krugerrand into the red kettle at the Kroger on Marter Road and Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores. The coin is estimated to be worth $1,200.

Capt. Andrew Shiels, of the Salvation Army, said that that money has done a lot of good over the years.

EASTPOINTE — City officials held a press conference Dec. 15 in the City Council chambers to discuss proposed changes to the way voters elect members of the City Council.

Eastpointe City Manager Steve Duchane received a letter from the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice Nov. 18 stating that the “existing system for electing the members of the Eastpointe City Council violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.”

WARREN — With American flags proudly displayed, complemented by red, white and blue table settings, about 30 local retired and active military members were honored during the third annual Military Appreciation Dinner Dec. 13 at Warren Mott High School.

WARREN — Sometimes, the clients that Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers serves live alone. Sometimes, they can’t get out to run basic errands most take for granted. Some need everyday household items. Some need help with their chores or yard work.

Others just need someone to talk to. And for homebound seniors and others with limited mobility, the “most wonderful time of the year” can also be the most lonely.

CENTER LINE — It was maybe the worst single-vehicle crash scenario imaginable.

After a truck struck a utility pole guidewire, flipped on its side and burst into flames between three downed high-voltage wires last month, a local business owner and two public safety officers quickly moved in to save a woman’s life.

It was well into the Great Recession when Zago lost his job, got his driver’s license suspended, and then lost his home in Michigan as well as a rental home in Arizona to bankruptcy. He said he depended on his friends, and a few strangers, to help him get back on his feet.

Today, Zago is president and founder of The Carpet Guys, a successful floor-covering company based in Troy.

Each year, the Goodfellows of Detroit gives out some special gifts just in time for Christmas. This Christmas season, the Goodfellows were joined by a number of the actors and performers from the Tony and Grammy Award winning play “Beautiful,” which is currently being performed at Detroit’s Fisher Theater.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Township Public Library would like you to pardon its dust.

The Main Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, has undergone three projects, including the addition of six study rooms, boiler replacements and backup generator upgrades. The Westacres Branch received a backup generator upgrade.

“Everybody knows the need for the study rooms — so everybody was very pleased to hear that,” Library Director Clara Bohrer said.

HARPER WOODS — When the Chase Bank on Kelly Road closed in 2015, many residents voiced their displeasure, as it was one of the few places nearby that could suit their financial needs. Others were saddened to see a business in their community close.

Recently, however, the property has been given new life as a community center owned by a local nonprofit organization called Lifebuilders.

DETROIT — Thanks to Meijer, 10 children involved in the Make-A-Wish program will be having a far merrier Christmas than before.

Meijer donated 10 gift baskets to Make-A-Wish Michigan to deliver to kids suffering from debilitating diseases. Make-A-Wish, which helps fund the wishes of the children, such as visiting a theme park or going to the Super Bowl, accepted the baskets and helped Meijer distribute them to the children Nov. 28.

ROCHESTER — The Rainbow Connection is hoping to help families with children in the hospital have one less thing to worry about this holiday season.

The organization — which makes dreams come true for Michigan children with life-threatening illnesses and provides support services to their families — is collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys and games for kids of all ages 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 22 at its headquarters, 621 W. University St.

Upcoming Events

The events in our calendar were submitted prior to the coronavirus crisis.
As efforts have increased to contain the spread of the coronavirus, many events have been canceled.
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On March 13, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order to cancel all events statewide that involve more than 250 people. It is recommended that you call ahead if you still intend to attend one of these events.